Shock-absorbek



C. A. WIBERG.

sHocK AasoRBvER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I2. I9I9.

1,319,988. Patented oet. 28,1919,

INVENTOR 6 a fll L Wzbeiy &-\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ www A TORNEYS THE commun PLANnnR/Ipn' c., wASHlNuTbN, una.,

'Tnnrrfon CHARLES A. ivresse., or noLiir-ri, MINNESOTA.

snooxnissomsnit.

To all whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that l, CHARLES A.. VVIBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of Saint Louis and State of Minnesota, haverinvented Cert-ain new and useful Improvements in-v ShoclriV Absorbers, of which the following is a specification. f i j yMy present invention has rference to that class of shock absorbers for motor vehicles, in which an auxiliary spring is Yprovided that is held in suspension between the main spring andthe axle orbody'of the vehicle and connected withV the said'main spring and axle in such mannerthat it operates as a means for cushioning the direct and rebound movements of the mai-n and the auxiliary springs. u

My said invention has particular reference to improvements in the construction of the shoclr absorber devices specifically disclosed in niy copending application, 'Serial No. 273,761, filed January 29, 1919, and primarily my -presentinvention seeks Yto provide certain improved features 'of construction having special reference tothe means for joining the auxiliary or fcushioning spring elements to a perch fixedly attached to the front axle, or to the brake drum, when my present construction of auxiliary or cushioning springs are attached to the rear main spring.

My present invention also seeks to pro- 'vide certain improvements in the meansV that connect the auxiliaryV or cushioning springs to their respective ends of the main spring with which they coperate, for limiting the direct thrust as also the upward. thrust or vrebound movements ofthe spring.

lilith the above objects in view and other objects that will hereinafter appear. my invention, in its l.more subordinate features,

cinbodiesceitain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts `asfwill beV fully lset forth in the following description,

Vspecifically pointed out-in the` appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,'in which:

Figure 1 is afroiit 'elevati-on'of a portion of an automobile and illustrates the s im, plest form of my present shock absorber, the same being especially designed for use on the front axle and the correspondingl Specification `of Letters Patent. I Patentgd O01; 28, 1919 1 Applicationled June 12, 1919. Serial No. 303,605. l Y" main spring, and the rocker and perch coilne'ctionmounted on the said front'axle.

Fig. 2 is apeispective yview ofthe rocker that constitutes a part of the perchA connection shown'inFig. 1.V 7 V Fig. 3 i'svfa detail, cross section" of l the hanger' connections that joins the outer end ofthe upper or turned back portion of the auxiliary spring device with the main spring and taken on the"line 3-3 on Figfl.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of-one of the rear wheels, a portion of the rearaxle with the brake drum and illustrates a somewhat modified Vconstruction of jtheV Vauxiliary spring,z the latter being especially ldesigned for Vuse in` connectionV with the rear Yaxle fand the perch devices'fconnected to thebrake Fig. Gis a perspective view of the perch i and shows theY Fig. 4. j

ln the practical arrangeinent'of my pres.- ent forni of slioclrfabsorber l'and when it is especially Vdesigned for use in lconnection with the front axleA and ,the front main spring, as i shown in' Fig. l, the auxiliary or cushion spring devices, which are held insuspension between the main'spring and thev axle of the'veliicle, consist of Vaplurality of leaves or spring plates comprising a lower inwardly extending set Ll and an upper set 3, the lower ones being connected at their outerends to a perch 1 that is lixedlyattached to and projected upwardly from the front axle 2.

The upper set'S of lthejspring plates, which join with and extend'outwardly from the inner endl of the lower set 4 of spring plates and the outer or free ends thereof, are connected to the corresponding outer end construction illustrated in of the main spring' in the manner' bestv shown iii Figs. l and 2.

ln my construction of shock absorber de'- lengthwise of the main spring, as will hereinatter be more fully explained.YV

l/Vhen designed for use for cooperation with the front main spring and the front gear of the vehicle where. the shocks, incident in the travel over rough surfaces, are not as severe as is imparted to the rear spring and the rear axle, the lower set 4 of the spring plates, preferably consists of three members or' uniform length and they are bent upwardly from the outer end and terminate in a straight portion which extends inwardly over the corresponding end of the main spring 5 and rests on top of the said spring, as is best shown in Fig. 1, by reference to which it will be seen the top set 3 of the spring members is composed Vof two fiat springs, the inner ends of which lie flatwise upon and are secured to the straight inner end of the lower set 4 ot the spring plates, and to hold the inner ends of the upper and lower sets ot spring plates in proper connection, a substantially U-shaped clamp 67 extends over the inner end of the spring plates and is secured thereto by a bolt 68 that passes through the overlapping portion of the clamp 67 and the spring plates, as shown.

69 designates a clamp bolt that passes through and clamps the upper and lower sets of spring leaves together, at a. point Some distance from the clamp connections 67 68 on the innermost end of the spring plates.

The upper one of the upper spring plates 3 extends outwardly some distance from the next or adjacent one of the said upper plates and terminates in an eye or loop 3, within which is held a bushing 15 through which passes a. pivot and clamping bolt 14, as is clearly shown inA Fig. 3, by reference to which it will be observed the spring plate loop 3El has an oil hole 16 that registers with an aperture 16EL in the bushing and through which the lubricant may pass to the bolt.

11-11 indicate a. pair of hangers or links whose upper ends are hung on the bolt 14 and the said hangers straddle the lower sets of spring plates 4 and their lower ends conneet with a cross stud 36 that passes through the eye 23 on the outer end ot the lowermost one ofthe plates that constitute the main Spring 5.

The said lower ends of the hangers 11-11 are held clamped to the opposite ends of the cross stud or bolt 36 by clamp nuts 36, 36, as shown.

The hangers 1111 each have a plurality of apertures 13, 13 for receiving one or more clamping bolts that tend to hold the hangers against buckling or working loose and somewhat near their upper end, each hanger has an inwardly projected stop lug 12. the reason for which will presently appear.

As before stated, when. my improved shock absorbing devices are to be used in connection with the front axle and the front main spring, the auxiliary spring or cushioning element is secured at the outermost end of the lower sets ospring plates 4 to a perch secured to project upwardly from the it'ront axle.

In my present construction of shook absorber and when arranged as in Fig. 1, the auxiliary or spring suspension is connected at its lower and outermost end to a rocker 40, the construction of which is best shown in Fig. 2, by reference to which it will be observed the said rocker 40 includes a pair ot' oppositely disposed apertured ears 42, 42 pendent from a top piece 41 that extends inwardly beyond the ears 42, 42 and tei'- minates in upturned*members 37, 37 which embrace and hold the outer end of the lower section of the auxiliary spring, which end extends beyond t'he ears 37 and rests upon the top piece or seat 41 to which the ends 39 of the lower sprino' section are lixedly held by the bolt 38 that passes through the said spring ends 39 and 40 and threads into an internally threaded aperture 4S in the said seat 41.

The rocker device also includes a pendent member 41EL at the outer or front end, to which is adjustably Connected a stop bolt 44, which bolt, in practice, may be set, as needed, so the auxiliary or cushioning spring cannot, on the rebound, go any higher than that for which the bolt 44 is set.

l't should be here stated that the lugs 12, 12 on the hangers 11, 11, see Fig. 3, limit the downward thrust oi tl e flexible outer end ot the upper section of the auxiliary spring, when arranged as in Fig. 1, since, when forced down to the limit, the said lugs or stops 12, 12 engage the lower section 4 of the said auxiliary spring.

A bolt 45 takes through the apertured ear of the rocker element and through a bushing mounted on the looped end of the lowermost spring plate 47.

ln Fig. 4, l have illust-rated a somewhat modified torm oi? my present ltype ot' shock absorbing devices and the arrangement of the parts shown in the said figure, while embodying the same generic characteristics of the construction of my shock absorber devices, when designed for use on the front axle and spring, are especially designed for use in connection with the rear mainV spring andthe rear axle, the parts thereof being particularly arranged and combined to adapt them for the heavier work, that is for taking up the shocks developed by the rear wheels and the axle therefor, when passing over rough places in the road.

The auxiliary spring, in the toi-m shown in Fig. 4, instead of being composed ot two independent sections, an upper and a lower one, is composed of a pluralityv oi spring plates, the number of which may beeither one, preferably four as shown, or six or more as the character of the automobile to Which my absorber devices are to be applied and may make desirable.

In the modified form, Fig. 4, before referred to, the auxiliary spring is composed of two spring members'designated a and b, the loWei-inost one a of ywhich 'starts at a loop B, runs back With the other member b backto A, `when it turns into .a loop and then .extends upon itself outwardly, the eX- tremity of the outermostniember a terminating in a loop 161 that connects with the bolt and hangers 11-11,`the same `as is the case in the other or simpler Structure of my absorber', asis shown in Fig. l.

In the Vsaid modified form, .two other spring members 6 and'S of considerable less length thanthe outermost members VaV and b provided and -fhe said members@` 'and 8 'aretbent back upon `themselves.and'fit between Ithe loop or bent spring members 'ci and, the said members G andk 8, when bent Vto the shape as shown, fall Within the oppos-l ing `upper and lower sections of the spring members a and Z) with the innermost or looped end thereof positioned some distance outward from the loopedv end i of the spring members c and Z), so as to accommodate a clamp device that tends to holdl the said loop or inner end of thesaid spring mein- Vbers incontact with thecorresponding end of themain spring 5 and to allow the said looped end of the auxiliary spring device to creep back and forth in the direction ofv the length of the said main spring.

i instead of using a simple substantially U-shaped clamp for holding the inner end of the auxiliary spring down. in engagement with the main spring in the modified form shown in Fig. il, I use a clamp that includes a transverse or cross member 19 that extends yacross, and engages the top face ofthe lower section of the auxiliary spring and the said member is integral with a'pair of oppositely disposed curved members 17 and 1S that engage the looped end A and the looped edge of the spring members 6 and 8, as isclearly shown in Figs. i and 5, by

reference to which it Will .be also noted the modified form of clamp also includes a pair of oppositely disposed pendent or side members 20, each of which has an elongated horizontal groote 54;, 54 in which ride the opposite ends of a. roller; bearing 55 that travels upon the corresponding end of the main spring and insures an easy ridingof the inner end ofthe kauxiliary spring along the main spring, 4as the cushion or auxiliary spring expands and contracts, when shifted as the vehicle hits the depressions or low spots .in the road. Y

, AAs before noted, and as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the upper outer end of the auxiliary springis joined through a v`link connection With the main spring, the same as is the case in the other or simpler construction that is g particularly adapted for the frontaxle and the front main spring, vas shown in Fig. l, but, in the said modified form, the perch is connected to the brake drum in the manner best shown in Fig. #L and as will be nonY inentioned in detail.v

engage, when Vthe auxiliary orV cushioning spring `moves `downwardly under lthe compression shock, as indicated by the broken line .r on Fig. 4f.

, The perch referredto also includes a pair of outwardly extended arms 9.7, 27, one of which has a round aperture 27? and. tie other a square aperture 27h, the letter sei-ving to hold the head of the bolt that takes through'a bushing 30 to which. the loop on the end of the outermost -n'ieinber of the main spring is connected, as is clearly shown in- Fig. 4, which also vindicates that the said outer end of the main spring passes through the slotted extension 25, such connection providing for holding the end of the spring from lifting too high, the cross member Q6 constituting a stop. i

A supplemental clamp that serves p' the function of thebolt 69 on Fig. l, in the nature of a clip 9, takes over the several upper and lower sets of spring members, when arranged as shown in Fig. 4l. The top of the clamp is made fast to the uppermost spring member by a set screw 9() and the lower ends of the clip member terminates in threaded extension that takes through the outer ends of the clip bar 10, Whichis held up against the under side of the lon'errnost spring members by nuts, as shown.

From ltheforegoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, .the complete construction. the manner of its operation under the shocks incident in the use ofn'iotor Vehicles and the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to fhose skilled in the art to which my said n ition relates. V

Among the advantages of my present invention is` that the shock absober h a certain travel .along the main soring' and in such manner that all the jointsY or connectine; members have suflicicnt siliencf.'v to give under all kinds of shocks imparted to either of the forms of my present invention., as shown. Y y

izo

The clamp that connects the auxiliary spring' device to the main spring and the perches serve to hold the main and the auxiliary springs in a substantially correct position under all deflections imparted thereto, when traveling over rough places.

lt should be stated tha'u when my improved shock absorbing devices are applied to the *front spring and axle, as shown in VFig. l, the cross bolt indicated on Fig'. 3 is omitted, since in this form should the compression or" the free end of the upper set oi' spring plates be excessive, the stops i2 on the hangers 1l are free to engage with the lower set of spring plates l applied as in Fig. 4, the bolt 35 is used, as in this torni, thestops 19 engage the portion 26 of the perch.

ii/lhile I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of my present construction of shock absorbers, it is to be understood I do not limit myself to the exact details and combinations shown, since they may be readily turther modified without departing from my invention as comes within the scope of the appended claims.

1iWhat l claim is:

l. In combination with the axle` and the regular main spring of a vehicle; ot a shpclr absorber comprising. an auxiliary spring consisting of upper and lower portions that extend over the corresponding end ot the main spring, the said portions being connected at their inner end to each other, the said inner end of the auxiliary spring normally resting upon and having slidable movement along the main spring, a fixedly ield perch, the outer end of the lower portion oi tho auxiliary spring being pivotally connected with the perch and an oscillatable connection that joins the outer end of the upper portion of the auxiliary spring with the corresponding end of the main spring, means for holding the inner end of the auxiliary spring in contact with the main spring.

2. In combination with the axle and the regular main spring of a vehicle; of a shock absorber comprising an auxiliary spring consisting of upper and lower portions that extend over the corresponding end or" the main spring, the said portions being connected at their inner end to each other, the said inner end ot the auxiliary spring normally resting upon and having slidable movement along the main spring, a iixedly held perch, the outer end of the lower portion of the auxiliary sprin being pivotally connected with the perch and an oscillatable connection that joins the outer end of the upper portion or the auxiliary spring with the corresponding end of the main spring, means for holding the inner end of the auxiliary spring in contact with the main spring, the said means comprising a clamp that straddles the main spring and whose opposite side portionsv have elongated groot/es and a roller bearing between the main and the auxiliary springs whose ends are guided in the said elongated grooves.

8. The combination with the axle, the main spring located adjacent the axle and a rigidly supported perch ot an auxiliary spring that comprises upper and. lower resilient portions joined at4 their inner end, a pivotal connection that joins the outer end of the lower auxiliary spring portion to the perch, the said connections consisting of a rocker pivotally sustained on the perch, the said rocker having a seat upon which the outer end of the lower portion et the auxiliary spring is supported, the said rocker including members that engage the opposite sides of the said outer end of the springs and means that flexibly connects the outer end of the upper spring portion to the correspending outer end of th main spri t. In a shocl; absorber, the combination with the axle and the main spring adjacent thereto; of a shock absorber comprising an auxiliary spring held over the corresponding end of the main spring', the said auxiliaryY spring comprising a number or' spring plates bent upon themselves to constitute upper and lower springportions, the outer or free ends thereof being separated, an oscillatable connection that joins the outer end of the upper spring portion with the correspon-ding outer end of the main spring, the outer end ot the lower spring portion being pivotally mounted with respect to the axle, a second number of spring' plates of less length than the other aforesaid spring plates, bent upon themselves and litted within t-he said other spring plates between the ends thereof, whereby a space is provided at the looped end of the outermost spring plates, and a clamp device that includes a member which passes through the space at the looped end of the outermost spring plates, and a clip connection that secures the clamp device onto the main spring.

5. In the shock absorber, the combination with the axle and the main spring adjacent thereto; of a shock absorber comprising an auxiliary spring held over the correspond ing end of the main spring, the said auxiliary spring comprising a number of spring plates bent upon themselves' to constitute upper and lower spring portions, the outer or free ends thereof being separated, an oscillatable connection that joins the outer end of the upper spring portion with the corresponding outer end oi' the main spring, the outer end of the lower spring portion being pivotally mounted with respect to the axle, a second number of spring plates of less length than the other aforesaid spring plates, bent upon themselves and itted with in the said other spring plates between the Y ends thereof, whereby a space is providedv at the looped endl of the outermost spring plates, and a clamp device that includes a member which passes through the space at the looped end of the outermost spring plates, and a clip connection that secures the clamp device onto the main spring,and

another device that clamps Athe several sets of spring plates together midway the inner and outer ends thereof.

6. In combination with the axle and the.

absorber comprising an auxiliary spring composed of upper and lower portions adapted for being extended lengthwise over the end of the main spring, the said upper and lower spring portions being connected at their inner end, a ixedly held perch with which the outer end of the lower spring portion pivotally connects, an oscillatable hanger connection pivotally joined at one end to the outer end of the upper auxiliary sprinportion and connected at the lower end to the corresponding end of the main spring, and aV stop for limiting the compression of the upper portion ot' the auxiliary spring.

7. In combination with the axle and the regular main spring of a vehicle; of a shock absorber comprising an auxiliary spring composed of upper and lower portions adapted ior being extended lengthwise over the end of the main spring, the said upper and lower spring portions being connected at their inner end, Va ixedly held perch with which the outer vend of the lower spring portion pivotally connects, an oscillatable hanger connection pivotally joined at one end tothe outer end Vof the upper auxiliary spring portion and connected at the lower end to the corresponding end of the main spring, and a stop for limiting the compres'- sion of the upper portion of the auxiliary spring, the said perch including a vertically slotted member through which the pivoted end of the lower portion of the auxiliary spring passes.

8. ln combination with the axle and the regularl main spring of a vehicle; of a shock absorber comprising an auxiliary spring composed of upper and lower portions adapted for being extended lengthwise over vthe end of the main spring, the said upper and lower spring portions being` connected at their inner end, a ixedly held perch with which the outer end of the lower spring portion pivotally connects, an oscillatable hanger connection pivotally joined at one end to the outer end of the upper auxiliary spring portion and connected at the lower end to the corresponding end of the main spring, and a stop for limiting the compression of the upper portion of the auxiliary spring, the said perch including a verticallyY and lower spring portions being connected at their inner end, a ixedly held perch with which the outer end of the lower spring portion pivotally connects, an oscillatable hanger connection pivotally joined at one end to the-outer end of the upper auxiliary spring portion and connected at the lower end to the corresponding end of the main spring, and a stop for llimiting the compression of the upper portion of the auxiliary spring, the said perch including a vertically slotted member through which the pivoted end of the lower portion of the auxiliary lspring passes, said stop consisting of cross lugs on the hangers adapted, under compression of the upper portion ofthe auxiliary spring to engage withanother and relatively stationarily h eld part, the said part comprising a stop portion on the perch for being engaged by the said stop lugs on i the hanger.

CHARLES A. WIBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

